Mobile soft duct system

ABSTRACT

A Mobile Soft Duct System includes a soft duct that can be extended and retracted along a track to deliver an air supply to various locations. A vent attached to a part of the soft duct system can include a flow control element that can be adjusted to direct air to a target location. Managing a soft duct system can include monitoring an environment to detect temperature hotspots and configuring the soft duct system, in response to detection of a hotspot at a particular location, to deliver air to the particular location to mitigate the hotspot. Configuring the soft duct system can include extending the soft duct along the track and adjusting a flow control element in a vent to direct air to the particular location. Soft duct system management can be implemented by one or more computer systems.

BACKGROUND

Organizations such as on-line retailers, network-based serviceproviders, Internet service providers, search providers, financialinstitutions, universities, and other computing-intensive organizationsoften conduct computer operations from large scale computing facilities.Such computing facilities house and accommodate a large amount ofserver, network, and computer equipment to process, store, and exchangedata as needed to carry out an organization's operations. Typically, acomputer room of a computing facility includes many server racks. Eachserver rack, in turn, includes many servers and associated computerequipment.

Computer systems typically include a number of components that generatewaste heat. Such components include printed circuit boards, mass storagedevices, power supplies, and processors. For example, some computerswith multiple processors may generate 250 watts of waste heat. Someknown computer systems include a plurality of such larger,multiple-processor computers that are configured into rack-mountedcomponents, and then are subsequently positioned within a rack computingsystem. Some known rack computing systems include 40 such rack-mountedcomponents and such rack computing systems will therefore generate asmuch as 10 kilowatts of waste heat. Moreover, some known data centersinclude a plurality of such rack computing systems.

Many data centers rely on forced air systems and air conditioning tomaintain the temperatures and other environmental conditions in the datacenter within acceptable limits. The initial and ongoing costs ofinstalling and operating these systems may add substantial cost andcomplexity to data center operations. Many existing methods andapparatus may not, moreover, supply air for cooling in an effectivemanner to where it is most needed.

Moreover, some known data centers include multiple rack computingsystems having configurations that are non-uniform with respect tocomponent density and usage, such that each rack computing systemgenerates waste heat at a non-uniform rate as compared to other rackcomputing systems. In such data centers, application of uniform heatremoval methods and apparatus to such non-uniform waste heat generationsources may not be fully efficient and effective in waste heat removal.

A disparity between a data center's heat removal capabilities andnon-uniform waste heat generation by rack computing systems can lead tothe creation of localized temperature anomalies in and around certainrack computing systems, including hotspots and coldspots, which candamage equipment if not mitigated. Modifying uniform cooling systems ina data center for such additional capacity to accommodate temperaturefluctuations and non-uniform waste heat generation, isresource-intensive and may take many months to implement. Furthermore,using uniform cooling systems to mitigate short-term temperatureanomalies caused by fluctuations in computing capacity needs at variousrack computing systems can be an inefficient use of resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a data center with an extended mobile soft ductsystem according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1A illustrates a collapsed mobile soft duct system according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a data center with a raised floorplenum primary cooling system and a mobile soft duct supplementarycooling system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a mobile soft duct systemaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a motorized mobile soft duct system according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a track coupling device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a data center with a plurality of mobile soft ductsystems managed by a control system to direct cooling air to variousrack computing systems according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an extended mobile soft duct system with contractedpassages according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates managing a supply of cooling air to a target locationusing a mobile soft duct system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system thatmay be used in some embodiments.

While embodiments are described herein by way of example for severalembodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art willrecognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments ordrawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings anddetailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments tothe particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings usedherein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be usedto limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughoutthis application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e.,meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e.,meaning must). Similarly, the words “include,” “including,” and“includes” mean including, but not limited to.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of cooling systems, and systems and methods ofmanaging flow of air to electrical systems are disclosed. According toone embodiment, a data center includes a computing room that has a rowof rack computing systems and a cold aisle extending along the row, aprimary cooling system that supplies primary air to the rack computingsystems from the cold aisle to meet rack computing system coolingrequirements, and a mobile soft duct cooling system that suppliessupplementary air to a rack computing system from the cold aisle. Themobile soft duct cooling system includes a track that extends along thecold aisle and a soft duct. The soft duct includes a collapsible conduitwith an interior passage, a ring coupled to the conduit surface andextending circumferentially along at least a portion of the conduitsurface, a hanger coupled to the ring at one end and movably coupled tothe track at the other end so that the collapsible conduit is extendedby moving the hanger along the track to move the ring along the track,and a vent attached to the ring that has an outlet with adjustablelouvers so that the vent provides an adjustable airflow from the conduitbased on adjustment of the louvers. The soft duct can be extended alongthe track to a targeted position so that the vent supplies supplementaryair to one of the rack computing systems.

According to one embodiment, a system includes a track that spans alength of space, a soft duct that has a passage at least partiallybounded by a flexible material, and a vent attached to the soft ductthat has an outlet and directs air supplied through the soft ductpassage via the outlet, and a coupling device that movably couples aportion of the soft duct to a portion of the track, so that the softduct is reversibly extended along the length of space to position thevent at a target location to supply air to a cooling target.

According to one embodiment, a method includes performing, by acomputing device, directing a motor to movably extend a portion of asoft duct along a predetermined track so that a vent coupled to the softduct is positioned a minimum distance from a target location, anddirecting an air distribution system to direct air through an interiorof the soft duct and through a vent outlet to direct the air to a targetlocation.

As used herein, “air distribution system” means a system that providesor moves air to, or removes air from, one or more systems or components.

As used herein, an “aisle” means a space next to one or more racks.

As used herein, “ambient” refers to a condition of outside air at thelocation of a system or data center.

As used herein, to “cinch” means to pull around at least a portion ofthe exterior of an element, such as a duct, in a manner that tends toreduce the size of the element. Examples of cinching members for a ductinclude strap, a rope, a chain, a belt, or a cord.

As used herein, to “contract” a passage means to make the passagesmaller (for example, shrink the size of the passage such that the crosssectional area of the passage is reduced).

As used herein, “computing” includes any operations that can beperformed by a computer, such as computation, data storage, dataretrieval, or communications.

As used herein, “computing device” includes any of various devices inwhich computing operations can be carried out, such as computer systemsor components thereof. One example of a computing device is arack-mounted server. As used herein, the term computing device is notlimited to just those integrated circuits referred to in the art as acomputer, but broadly refers to a processor, a server, amicrocontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC),an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmablecircuits, and these terms are used interchangeably herein. Some examplesof computing devices include e-commerce servers, network devices,telecommunications equipment, medical equipment, electrical powermanagement and control devices, and professional audio equipment(digital, analog, or combinations thereof). In various embodiments,memory may include, but is not limited to, a computer-readable medium,such as a random access memory (RAM). Alternatively, a compact disc-readonly memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), and/or a digitalversatile disc (DVD) may also be used. Also, additional input channelsmay include computer peripherals associated with an operator interfacesuch as a mouse and a keyboard. Alternatively, other computerperipherals may also be used that may include, for example, a scanner.Furthermore, in the some embodiments, additional output channels mayinclude an operator interface monitor and/or a printer.

As used herein, “data center” includes any facility or portion of afacility in which computer operations are carried out. A data center mayinclude servers dedicated to specific functions or serving multiplefunctions. Examples of computer operations include informationprocessing, communications, simulations, and operational control.

As used herein, “data center module” means a module that includes, or issuitable for housing and/or physically supporting, one or more computersystems that can provide computing resources for a data center.

As used herein, to “dilate” a passage means to make the passage larger(for example, allow the size of the passage to expand such that thecross sectional area of the passage is increased).

As used herein, to “direct” air includes directing or channeling air,such as to a region or point in space.

As used herein, to “mitigate” means to reduce the severity of, or riskof damage from, something, such as a load, phenomenon, anomaly, orevent.

As used herein, a “module” is a component or a combination of componentsphysically coupled to one another. A module may include functionalelements and systems, such as computer systems, racks, blowers, ducts,power distribution units, fire suppression systems, and control systems,as well as structural elements, such a frame, housing, or container. Insome embodiments, a module is pre-fabricated at a location off-site froma data center.

As used herein, a “motor” means a machine that can convert energy intomechanical motion. Examples of motors include an electrical motor, ahydraulic motor, an actuator, a belt drive, and a chain drive.

As used herein, a “rack” means a rack, container, frame, or otherelement or combination of elements that can contain or physicallysupport one or more computer systems.

As used herein, “rack computing system” means a system that includes oneor more computing devices mounted in a rack.

As used herein, “room” means a room or a space of a building. As usedherein, “computing room” means a room of a building in which computingdevices, such as rack-mounted servers, can be operated.

As used herein, a “space” means a space, area or volume.

As used herein, a “duct” includes any tube, pipe, conduit, orcombination thereof that has one or more passages through which a fluidcan be conveyed. A duct may include one or more passages at leastpartially bounded by one or more types of material. Examples ofmaterials for a duct include cloth, fabric, extruded metal, sheet metal,a polymer, or a combination thereof. A passage of a duct may have anysize and shape. For example, the cross section of a duct may be square,round, ovate, rectangular, polygonal, or irregular. A passage of a ductmay have a constant or changing cross section or a cross section thatchanges over the length of the passage.

As used herein, a “soft duct” means a duct that can be flexed, bent,extended, collapsed, stretched, or compressed to change the shape of theduct. Examples of materials for a soft duct include fabric, cloth,polymeric sheeting, or other flexible materials.

In various embodiments, an air distribution system includes a mobilesoft duct system that is reversibly configurable to supply air to one ormore various locations. In some embodiments, the mobile soft duct systemcan be extended along a track to a targeted position to deliver air toone or more target locations. Air delivery can be facilitated by one ormore vents including flow control elements that can be adjusted todirect air to a target location.

In some embodiments, the mobile soft duct system is a supplementary airdistribution system that complements a primary air distribution system,such that the mobile soft duct system is used to supply air if the airsupplied provided by the primary air distribution system is insufficientfor certain needs. For example, in a data center environment, a rackcomputing system under increased use may require a greater immediateintake of air than a primary cooling system can provide, where a mobilesoft duct system can be extended into position to supply additional airto the rack computing system to meet its immediate air needs, afterwhich time the mobile soft duct system may be refracted and the primarycooling system may resume supplying all of the air once the primarycooling system is once again able to unilaterally meet the rackcomputing system's cooling needs.

In some embodiments, the mobile soft duct system can be at leastpartially motorized, so that one or more components of the mobile softduct system, including a reversible extension of some or all of the softduct, adjustment of one or more flow control elements to direct airflow, and the like can be managed by a control system. For example, oneor more components of a mobile soft duct system may be controlled by awall-mounted control system based upon user inputs.

In some embodiments, the control system may manage the mobile soft ductsystem to respond to and mitigate localized environmental anomalies. Forexample, in a data center environment, a control system may respond todetection of a temperature hotspot at a rack computing system bymanaging one or more components of the mobile soft duct system todeliver air to the rack computing system to reduce the temperature andmitigate the hotspot. The control system may manage multiple componentsto balance air distribution through various vents in the system.

In some embodiments, some or all of a soft duct in the mobile soft ductsystem can include a duct-contracting component that can reversiblycontract or dilate at least a portion of a soft duct to augmentparameters of air flow through one or more passages of the portion ofthe soft duct.

FIG. 1 illustrates a data center 100 with two rows 102 of rack computingsystems 104, a primary cooling system, and an extended mobile soft ductsystem 120 according to one embodiment. The illustrated data center 100may show a cutaway view of at least some rack computing systems 104 toexpose one or more computing systems 106 and to at least partiallyexpose mobile soft duct system 120.

Data center 100 includes rack computing systems 104 arranged in rows102, such that an aisle extends between the rows 102. Rack computingsystems 104 may include one or more computing systems 106. In someembodiments, each computing system 106 includes modules that generatewaste heat during operation. In some embodiments, if the waste heat isnot removed, the computing system 106 components may be damaged. Excesswaste heat may manifest as an environmental anomaly, including atemperature hotspot, which can be identified using temperature sensors.Anomalies may be localized; for example, a temperature hotspot may belocalized to a particular portion of rack computing system 104,including some or all of an individual computing system 106.

Each computing system 106 may cool the various modules therein byreceiving air from the aisle to absorb and remove waste heat from thecomputing system 106. Such cooling may be passive, such that thecomputing system 106 is constructed to allow air to pass through withoutrequiring use of an internal blower or other air moving device. The airmay pass through one or more conduits (not shown in FIG. 1) in eachcomputing system 106, where the air absorbs and removes waste heatgenerated by the various modules, thereby cooling the computing system106. In some embodiments, a conduit is located within an individualcomputing system 106. In some embodiments, a conduit is at leastpartially located external to a computing system 106 and within rackcomputing system 104. For example, a conduit may pass between individualcomputing systems 106 in rack computing system 104.

Mobile soft duct system 120 includes a soft duct 112 that may beextended from an air handling unit 115 along a path that follows a track114. In some embodiments, the soft duct 112 includes a conduit thatdirects air 130 supplied by the air handling unit 115 to one or morevarious locations in an environment. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, multiple vents 116 and 118 coupled to the soft duct 112 maydirect air 130 supplied through the conduit of the soft duct 112 by airhandling unit 115 to one or more computing systems 106 in the aisle. Airhandling unit 115 may include an air moving device, such as a blower, afan, or the like.

In some embodiments, soft duct 112 can be extended or retracted along apath that follows track 114. For example, soft duct 112 may be coupledto various coupling devices 113 that are movably coupled to track 114,and the coupling devices 113 may be moved along track 114 to moveportions of soft duct 112, thereby extending or retracting portions ofthe soft duct 112. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, soft duct 112is partially extended along the aisle between the rows 102 of rackcomputing systems, so that a portion of the soft duct 112 is retractednear the air handling unit 115. In some embodiments, soft duct 112 is atleast partially comprised of a flexible material that enables the softduct to be collapsed along the path following the track 114, so thatretracted portions of the soft duct 112 are collapsed, as shown in theillustrated embodiment. In some embodiments, a portion of the soft duct112 is collapsed when two or more coupling devices 113 are movedtogether.

In some embodiments, coupling devices 113 are coupled directly to thematerial bounding a conduit in the soft duct 112. For example, where thesoft duct 112 is comprised of a strong flexible material, the couplingdevices 113 may be directly attached to the material of the soft duct112 so that the weight of the soft duct 112 is transferred to thecoupling devices 113 through the material. In some embodiments, couplingdevices 113 are coupled to a structural component that supports thematerial. For example, a hoop structure 126, located inside a conduit ofsoft duct 112, may be coupled to one or more coupling devices 113 sothat the weight of the soft duct 112 is transferred to the couplingdevices 113 through one or more hoop structures. In some embodiments,the soft duct 112 is extended by moving one or more coupling devices 113along track 114, which moves one or more hoop structures 126 coupled tothe soft duct, thereby extending or retracting portions of the soft duct112.

In some embodiments, the mobile soft duct system 120 is configured toadjust the distance of the soft duct 112 from the track 114. Forexample, where the particular computing system 106 to be supplied airvia vent 118 is close to the floor of data center 100, mobile soft ductsystem 120 may be configured to lower at least a portion of the softduct 112 closer to the floor, so that air 130 can be directed from vent118 to the particular computing system 106.

In some embodiments, coupling devices 113 are spaced a predetermineddistance along the soft duct 112 to divide the soft duct 112 intoportions. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of a data center100, where rack computing systems 104 may have a certain width, such as24 inches, each portion of the soft duct 112 may be an equal distance inlength. Each portion may include one or more vents 116 and 118, whichmay be spaced so that, when a portion of the soft duct 112 is extendedalong the aisle, one or more vents 116 is aligned with a rack computingsystem 104. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, soft duct 112 isextended to a particular configuration so that vent 118 is aligned withrack computing system 104.

In some embodiments, each vent 116 and 118 includes one or more flowcontrol elements that can direct flow of air to one or more particularlocations in an environment. In the illustrated embodiment, for example,vent 118 includes a flow control element that is adjusted to direct air130 from an internal passage of soft duct 112 to conduit 106 of rackcomputing system 104 as intake air. In addition, vents 116 include flowcontrol elements adjusted to restrict air from exiting one or moreinternal passages through the vents 116.

Soft duct 112 may include an end plate 122 that caps the soft duct at anend of the at least one conduit opposite the air handling unit 115,thereby restricting air from flowing out the end of the soft duct 112.In some embodiments, the end plate 122 includes one or more attachmentassemblies that enable the soft duct to be extended or retracted alongthe path. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, end plate 122includes a handle 124 that enables a user to pull the soft duct 112along the path to extend it, push it to retract it, or some combinationthereof. In some embodiments, end plate 122 includes an attachment pointfor a tool, including a hook, to pull or push the soft duct 112 alongthe path. In other embodiments, a handle 124 or a tool attachment pointmay be alternatively (or additionally) located at other positions on oralong soft duct 112, such as at one or more of vents 116, 118 and/or atone or more of hoop structures 126.

Soft duct 112 may include one or more attachment points that allow onesoft duct to be coupled to, or detached from, another soft duct, therebyeffectively extending or retracting the soft duct 112. For example, endplate 122 may be removable and soft duct 112 may include one or morevarious attachment devices, including a clip, that can attach the softduct 112 with another soft duct so that one or more passages in softduct 112 can communicate air through an additional passage in theanother soft duct.

In some embodiments, the track 114 follows a particular path, so thatthe soft duct may be extended along the path to deliver air to targetlocations proximate to the path. For example, in the illustrated datacenter embodiment, track 114 is a tension cable that generally extendsbetween two wall attachment points 132 along the aisle that extendsbetween the rows 102 of rack computing systems 104 so that the soft duct112 may be extended along the aisle to deliver air 130 to one or morerack computing systems 104 from the aisle. In some embodiments, such aswhere the air handling unit 115 is located at a wall of a room, thetrack may extend from an attachment point 132 on the wall near the airhandling unit 115. For example, track 114 may be a rigid metal trackthat includes curves so that soft duct 112 can be extended or retractedalong a non-linear path. In some embodiments, the track may extend fromvarious locations. For example, where the air handling unit 115 islocated in a ceiling of data center 100, the track 114 may extend fromthe ceiling and curve so that the soft duct 112 continues to extendalong the aisle.

In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system 120 supplies air to variouscomputing systems 106 included in the rack computing systems 104 in datacenter 100. For example, soft duct 112 may be extended, and flow controlelements in vents 116 and 118 adjusted, to direct air 130 to some or allselected computing systems 106 in each rack computing system 104 to meettheir cooling air needs. In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system120 is a supplementary cooling system for data center 100 thatsupplements or replaces another air distribution system in providing airto one or more rack computing systems 104. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, data center 100 includes a primary coolingsystem that comprises a raised floor plenum, where air 128 may bedistributed through the raised floor plenum and supplied to the rackcomputing systems 104 through particular floor tiles 110 in the raisedfloor in the aisle.

In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system 120 supplies supplementaryair 130 to at least a portion of one or more rack computing systems 104to supplement or replace the air 128 supplied by the primary coolingsystem in response to the primary cooling system being insufficient tothe cooling air needs of one or more portions of one or more rackcomputing systems 104. For example, where usage of a particular portionof a rack computing system 104, such as one or more computer systems106, fluctuates over time, such that the cooling needs of the portion ofthe rack computing system 104 exceed the capabilities of the primarycooling system, a temperature hotspot may occur at the particularportion of the rack computing system 104. In response to the hotspot'screation, mobile soft duct system 120 may be configured supplysupplementary air to the particular portion of the rack computing system104 to meet its cooling needs and mitigate the hotspot. To do so, mobilesoft duct system 120 may be configured to deliver air 130 to the rackcomputing system, such that the soft duct 112 is extended to positionvent 118 at a particular location facing rack computing system 104,within a certain minimum distance of the rack computing system 104, orsome combination thereof. The vent 118 may be configured to direct airsupplied through soft duct 112 from air handling unit 115 to aparticular portion of rack computing system 104 based on a particularadjustment of one or more flow control elements associated with the vent118. Upon mitigation of the hotspot, mobile soft duct system 120 may bere-configured, which may involve retracting the soft duct 112 to acollapsed or stowed configuration, adjusting flow control elements toclose the vent 118, controlling some part of air handling unit 115, andthe like. In some embodiments, controlling some part of air handlingunit 115 includes varying the speed of an internal air moving device(not shown in FIG. 1), such as a blower, in air handling unit 115, usinga variable frequency drive.

For illustrative purposes, only two rack computing systems and onemobile soft duct system are shown in FIG. 1. A data center 100 may,however, include any number of racks and any number of mobile soft ductsystems. For example, rack computing systems 104 may be arranged in oneor more rows in a computing room.

FIG. 1A illustrates a collapsed mobile soft duct system 120 according toone embodiment.

In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system 120 may be configured intoa retracted or collapsed configuration. For example, where soft duct 112is comprised of a flexible material that is collapsible, the soft duct112 may be collapsed via retraction along the path following the track114. Such a configuration may enable ease of maintenance access, airflow through an environment, or the like. For example, in the embodimentwhere mobile soft duct system 120 is a supplementary cooling system indata center 100, the mobile soft duct system 120 may go unused whenenvironmental anomalies are not present in data center 100 and may beconfigured in a collapsed configuration until needed to supplysupplementary air.

In some embodiments, each vent 116 in mobile soft duct system 120includes an external buffering material to protect against damage fromcollisions between vents 116, air handling unit 115, or some combinationthereof when portions of the soft duct 112 are retracted. Examples ofbuffering material may include flexible plastic materials, rubber,fabric, mesh, spring devices, and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a data center 200 with rackcomputing systems 202, a raised floor plenum primary cooling system 204,and a mobile soft duct supplementary cooling system 206, according toone embodiment.

The rack computing systems 202 are arranged in rows, such that aisles208 and 210 extend in parallel on opposite sides of each row of rackcomputing systems 202. Cold aisle 208 is associated with air supplied tocool each rack computing system 202 facing the cold aisle 208, such thatone or more air distributions systems associated with the cold aisle 208supply air 216 and 218, also referred to herein as “cooling air”, to therack computing systems 202 from the cold aisle 208. Hot aisles 210 areassociated with exhaust air, such that one or more exhaust vents 214associated with hot aisles 210 receive exhaust air 220 exhausted by rackcomputing systems 202 and remove the exhaust air 220 from theenvironment proximate to the rack computing systems 202. Air 216 and 218may pass through one or more rack computing systems 202, absorb andremove waste heat from one or more components, and exit the one or morerack computing systems 202 as exhaust air 220.

In some embodiments, data center 200 includes a primary cooling system204 that comprises a raised floor plenum 211. The data center 200 mayinclude a raised floor 209, upon which at least some rack computingsystems 202 rest, and a lower floor 207, where air may be distributedthrough the raised floor plenum 211 and supplied to the rack computingsystems 202 through particular tiles 212 in the raised floor 209 in thecold aisle 208. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, air may bedistributed through the raised floor plenum 211 and supplied as air 216to one or more rack computing systems 202 through a floor tile 212 inthe cold aisle 208. In some embodiments, the floor tile 212 is aperforated floor tile, louver tile, some combination thereof, or someother apparatus that supplies air 216 from plenum 211 to cold aisle 208.

In some embodiments, data center 200 includes a supplementary coolingsystem 206 that comprises a mobile soft duct system. The mobile softduct system 206 may supply air 218 to one or more rack computing systems202 from the cold aisle 208. The air 218 may be supplied in addition orin place of air 216 supplied from the primary cooling system 204. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, mobile soft duct system 206 maysupply air 218 to rack computing systems 202 concurrently with theraised floor plenum 211 supplying primary cooling air 216 to the samerack computing systems 202.

In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system 206 supplies air 218 to atleast a portion of one or more rack computing systems 202 to supplementor replace the air 216 in response to air 216 being insufficient to thecooling needs of one or more portions of one or more rack computingsystems 202. For example, where usage of a particular portion of a rackcomputing system 202 fluctuates over time, such that the cooling needsof the portion of the rack computing system 202 require more air thanair 216 supplied by primary cooling system 204, a temperature hotspotmay occur at the particular portion of the rack computing system 202 aswaste heat accumulates. In response to the hotspot's creation, mobilesoft duct system 206 may be adjusted to a configuration that suppliesair 218 to the particular portion of the rack computing system 202 tomeet its cooling needs and mitigate the hotspot.

For illustrative purposes, only three rows of rack computing systems,two hot aisles, one cold aisle, one floor tile, and one mobile soft ductsystem are shown in FIG. 2. A data center may, however, include anynumber of rack computing systems, hot aisles, cold aisles, floor tiles,and mobile soft duct systems.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a mobile soft duct system 300according to one embodiment. Mobile soft duct system 300 includes a softduct 301, vent 306, and coupling device 330 (illustrated and discussedin further detail below with reference to FIG. 5).

Soft duct 301 includes one or more passages 302 at least partiallybounded by one or more pieces of material 304. In some embodiments, thesoft duct 301 includes one or more conduits that further include one ormore passages bounded by one or more pieces of material. The conduitsand the passages may have any size and shape. The cross section of aduct, conduit, passage, and the like may be square, round, ovate,rectangular, polygonal, or irregular. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, soft duct 301 includes at least one conduit that includesone passage 302 that is bounded on the top and sides by material 304.

In some embodiments, soft duct 301 facilitates distribution of airthroughout at least a portion of mobile soft duct system 300 by enablingair to pass through passage 302. For example, in an embodiment wheremobile soft duct system 300 supplies air to one or more regions in anenvironment, air may be passed through at least a portion of soft duct301 by way of passage 302. The cooling air may be supplied to passage302 from an air handling unit (not shown in FIG. 3), which may becoupled to one or more ends of soft duct 301.

In some embodiments, soft duct 301 includes one or more hoops 308 thatextend circumferentially around at least a portion of a surface of softduct 301. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, soft duct 301includes hoop 308 which extends circumferentially around the portion ofsoft duct that is bounded by material 304. Hoops 308 may be located atvarious locations along the length of a soft duct 301 and may providestructural support to the soft duct 301. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, hoop 308 may provide structural support to soft duct 301 bycoupling with coupling device 330, so that the soft duct 301 issupported from coupling device 330 via hoop 308.

In some embodiments, hoop 308 is coupled to at least a portion of asurface of soft duct 301. The hoop may be coupled to the surface via anadhesive material, coupling device, physical contact, or somecombination thereof. For example, where soft duct 301 includes aflexible fabric material 304, hoop 308 may be coupled to material 304 byway of being sewn into the fabric material. In some embodiments, hoop308 is coupled to an inside surface of material 304. Coupling of thehoop 308 to the inside surface of material 304 may enable hoop 308 tosupport at least the material 304 bounding the passage 302 of soft duct301 at least part of the time. For example, where the air pressure inpassage 302 is not more than the ambient environment 326, the material304 may sag and be supported in place by one or more hoops 308 coupledto coupling device 330. Hoop 308 may be coupled to coupling device 330.For example, hoop 308 and coupling device 330 may be welded, coupled byan adhesive or additional coupling device, formed of one or more commonpieces of material, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments,where hoop 308 is coupled to an inside surface of material 304, couplingdevice 330 may extend through a sealed aperture in material 304 tocouple with hoop 308, where the aperture may be sealed to preventleakage from passage 302 to a surrounding environment.

Vent 306 includes one or more outlets 314 that communicate air 303 frompassage 302 of soft duct 301 to an ambient environment 326 external tosoft duct 301. Vent 306 may include material that bounds at least aportion of passage 302 along at least some portion of the length of softduct 301. For example, where soft duct 301 is a circular cylindricalconduit bounded by a single piece of material 304, vent 306 may have theapproximate shape of a rectangular prism that bounds passage 302 alongonly a portion of the length of soft duct 301 through an aperture inmaterial 304.

In some embodiments, vent 306 includes one or more coupling points 312for material 304 to couple with vent 306, such that leakage from passage302 to the ambient environment 326 from between material 304 and atleast a portion of vent 306 is precluded. In some embodiments, material304 is wrapped around a portion of coupling point 312 to preclude suchleakage. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, coupling point 312is shaped so that material 304 is coupled to vent 306 at least partiallyby being wrapped around part of coupling point 312. Additional oralternative coupling between vent 306 and material 304 can involve anadhesive, coupling device, welding, some combination thereof, or thelike.

In some embodiments, vent 306 is coupled 310 to hoop 308, such that vent306 is supported at least in part by hoop 308. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, vent 306 is coupled to hoop 308 so that theweight of vent 306 is at least partially transferred to coupling device330 through hoop 308 and the vent 306 is supported from a track 328without most of its weight being transferred through material 304. Insome embodiments, such as where no hoop 308 is present in at least aportion of soft duct 301, vent 306 is coupled to material 304 such thatthe weight of vent 306 is at least mostly transferred to a load-bearingstructure through material 304. In some embodiments, at least vent 306and hoop 308 are comprised of at least one common piece of material. Forexample, at least some of vent 306, hoop 308, and coupling device 330may be formed out of a single piece of material, including a piece ofplastic.

In some embodiments, vent 306 includes one or more outlets 314 thatsupply air 303 from passage 302 to ambient environment 326. The outlets314 may be formed so as to direct air in a particular direction. Forexample, in an embodiment where mobile soft duct system 300 supplies airto particular regions of an environment, one or more outlets 314 may beconstructed to direct air 303 from passage 302 to one or more particularregions. In some embodiments, vent 306 includes one or more flow controlelements 316 that direct the flow of air 303 from the one or moreoutlets 314. The flow control elements 316 may be adjustable to directair flow differently based upon various adjustment configurations of theflow control elements. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, wherevent 306 includes two outlets 314, a flow control element 306 is locatedat each outlet 314 and includes one or more adjustable louvers that canbe independently or at least partially collectively adjusted to directair 303 to various locations in the ambient environment 326. In someembodiments, a flow control element 316 can be adjusted to partially orentirely restrict air from flowing out of one or more outlets 314.

In some embodiments, a flow control element 306 is manually adjusted todirect air to a particular part of ambient environment 326. For example,in the illustrated embodiment, one of the flow control elements 316includes a louver that is adjustable through a manual lever 318 so thata user can interact with lever 318 to manually adjust the louver 316 toa particular configuration to direct air 303 from passage 302 to aparticular location. In some embodiments, a flow control element ismotorized to be automatically adjusted to direct air to a particularpart of ambient environment 326. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, one of the flow control elements 316 includes a louver thatis adjustable by a motor 320 so that the motor can adjust the louver 316to a particular configuration to direct air 303 from passage 302 to aparticular location.

In some embodiments, one or more functions of the motor 320 areimplemented based upon signals received from a local source, remotesource, or some combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments,motor 320 may be coupled to a remote power source via one or more powertransmission lines so that the motor 320 is activated and controlledbased upon electrical signals received over the lines. In someembodiments, motor 320 is controlled based upon commands received from aremote source. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, mobile softduct system 300 includes a transceiver 322 that receives command signalsfrom a remote source, such as a control system 324, via a wirelessconnection. The command signals may be routed from the transceiver tothe motor 320 to move one or more flow control elements 316. In someembodiments, the transceiver 322 includes one or more computer systemsthat send and receive signals, process and execute received signals, andthe like. For example, transceiver 322 may include a computing devicethat receives and processes command signals and, based on theprocessing, directs motor 320 to adjust flow control element 316 to aparticular configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates a motorized mobile soft duct system 400 according toone embodiment.

Mobile soft duct system 400 includes a soft duct 402 that is coupled,via multiple coupling devices 404A-B, to track 406A-B and is coupled atone end to air handling unit 408. In some embodiments, soft duct 402 isat least partially extendable along a path that follows track 406A-B bymoving one or more coupling devices 404A-B along the track 406A-B.

In some embodiments, mobile soft duct system 400 is motorized such thatone or more components, functions, or some combination thereofassociated with mobile soft duct system 402 is implemented through useof one or more motors. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, motor410 is coupled to track 406-A and implements movement of at least one ofthe coupling devices 404-A along track 406-A to extend at least aportion of soft duct 402. Motor may be coupled to track 406-A, in someembodiments, by way of a shaft 412 and gear 414 assembly that convertrotating motion by the motor 410 to linear motion by at least a part oftrack 406-A.

In some embodiments, motor 410 is used to reversibly extend some or allof the soft duct 402 by moving one or more selected coupling devices404-A of a plurality of coupling devices 404A-B along track 406-A. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, track 406A-B may include twoseparate tracks, one of which is a motorized track 406-A mechanicallycoupled to motor 410 via a shaft 412 and gear 414 assembly, and theother of which is a static track 406-B that is not mechanically coupledto motor 410. In such an example, only one or more selected couplingdevices 404-A may be coupled to the motorized track 406-A, and theremaining coupling devices 404-B coupled to the static track 406-B, suchthat operation of the motor 410 to move the motorized track 406-A willmove the selected coupling devices 404-A along the motorized track 406-Aand the remaining coupling devices 404B may be pulled along the statictrack 406-B as the soft duct 402 extends due to the motion of theselected coupling devices 404-A.

In some embodiments, motor 410 is controlled so that the soft duct 402is selectively extended or refracted based upon one or more signalsreceived at the motor 410. Signals can include an electrical current, adata signal directing the motor 410 to perform a certain operation, somecombination thereof, or the like. For example, motor 410 may receive adata signal directing the motor 410 to operate in a standard mode for 10seconds, such that the soft duct 402 is extended via motion of one ormore selected coupling devices 404-A along track 406-A due to mechanicalcoupling with the operating motor 410. In another example, motor 410 mayreceive a data signal directing the motor 410 to operate in a reversemode for five seconds, such that the soft duct is refracted via motionof one or more selected coupling devices 404-A along track 406-A due tomechanical coupling with the operating motor 410. In a further example,motor 410 may operate simply based upon receipt of an electrical currentpowering the motor, where operation of the motor 410 is controlled basedupon controlling supply of electrical current to the motor.

In some embodiments, motor 410 is controlled by a control system 416that controls at least part of the configuration of the mobile soft ductsystem 402 by controlling operation of motor 410. Control system 416 maybe located remotely or locally, or some combination thereof, from mobilesoft duct system 402 and may include one or more computer systems andmay be coupled to at least motor 410 by way of line 418. In someembodiments, control system 416 communicates with motor 410 via line 418to control operation of motor 418. In some embodiments, line 418includes a wireless connection.

In some embodiments, control system 416 directs motor 410 to move atleast a portion of track 406, thereby moving at least a portion of softduct 402 along a path following the track 406, based upon commands incontrol system 416. The commands may include program instructions storedin a portion of a computer system included in control system 416,program instructions developed dynamically by the computer system,program instructions received from a source external to the computersystem, some combination thereof, or the like. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, control system 416 may direct motor 410 basedupon program instructions provided to the control system 416 by a uservia a user interface included in control system 416. The interface mayinclude a touchscreen display, one or more switches, buttons, akeyboard, a mouse, some combination thereof, or the like. For example,the interface may include a touchscreen display that displays one ormore icons associated with various functions associated with mobile softduct system 400 and one or more fields for the user to enter programinstructions. The user may, for example, instruct control system 416 toimplement a certain configuration of at least a portion of mobile softduct system 400 by clicking and holding on a displayed icon associatedwith extension of the soft duct 402, using a mouse or other device,which control system 416 may respond to by directing motor 410 to moveat least a portion of track 406A-B in a certain direction as long as theuser continues to hold on the displayed icon.

In some embodiments, the control system 416 stores program instructionsassociated with predetermined configurations of at least part of themobile soft duct system 400 which the user selects via interaction withcontrol system 416 via an interface. For example, in a data centerenvironment, distances of extension of soft duct 402 to position certainportions of soft duct 402 at a target location associated with a certainrack computing system (not shown in FIG. 4) may be predetermined andstored in a computing system, so that a user may be presented, via aninterface, with various potential configurations of mobile soft ductsystem 400 that the user may select to position a certain portion ofsoft duct 402 at a target location associated with a particular rackcomputing system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a coupling device 500 movably coupled to a track 502according to one embodiment.

Coupling device 500 includes a coupling element 504 that contacts thetrack 502 and a load-bearing element 506 that connects to hoop 508,thereby enabling the coupling device 500 to transfer the load of variouscomponents of a soft duct, including hoops, vents, motors, materials,etc. to the track 502. In some embodiments, the coupling device 500hangs the hoop 508 and associated soft duct components beneath the track502. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the load bearingelement 506 includes a hanger element that couples to the track 502 anda hoop 508 so that the soft duct hangs from the track 502 via couplingdevice 500. In some embodiments, the coupling device 500 rests the hoop508 and associated soft duct on the track 502, such that the associatedsoft duct is located at least partially above the track 502.

In some embodiments, a coupling element 504 movably couples the couplingdevice 500 with track 502 so that the coupling device 500 can be movedalong the track 502. Moving a coupling device 500 along a track 502 maymove at least a portion of a soft duct along a path that generallyfollows the track 502. For example, in the illustrated embodiment,coupling element 504 includes a track wheel that rolls along a portionof track 502, such that coupling device 500 moves along track 502 due tothe rolling contact between track wheel 504 and the track 502, wheremovement of the coupling device 500 also moves at least a portion of asoft duct by moving a hoop 508 coupled to the coupling device.Continuing the example, where the hoop 508 is attached to a surface ofthe soft duct, moving the coupling device 500 along the track 502 mayextend the soft duct along a path that generally follows the track 502by moving the hoop 508 which moves at least some material comprising thesurface of the soft duct.

In some embodiments, the coupling element 504 is a simple couplingelement that slidingly contacts the track 502. For example, couplingelement 504 may include a hook element that rests on the track 502, suchthat the load of the hoop 508 and associated soft duct, transferred viaload bearing element 506, provides sufficient force to hold the hook inplace on the track 502 until sufficient force is applied to the hook toslide it along the track 502.

In some embodiments, coupling device 500 includes a brake component 510that engages to hold the coupling device 500 at a particular location onthe track 502 by locking the coupling element 504 into place. Thecoupling device 500 may be held in place to hold at least a portion of asoft duct coupled to the coupling device 500 at a particular location.For example, where a particular vent coupled to a soft duct is to bepositioned at a particular location to deliver air to a particulartarget, the soft duct may be held in place at a certain amount ofextension from an air handling unit by engaging one or more brakingcomponents 510 on one or more coupling devices 500 of the mobile softduct system. In some embodiments, only some of the coupling devices 500in a mobile soft duct system include one or more braking components.

In some embodiments, braking component 510 engages with a portion oftrack 502 opposite the portion contacted by coupling element 504. Insome embodiments, braking component 510 is manually engaged. Forexample, a lever or other device may be coupled to braking component 510that enables a user to manually engage the braking component 510,thereby holding the coupling device 500 at a particular location on thetrack 502.

In some embodiments, coupling device 500 includes a motor 512 that canmanipulate one or more components of coupling device 500. For example,where coupling element is a wheel element that can rollingly contacttrack 502, the motor 512 may be coupled to coupling element 504 so thatthe motor 512 can rotate the coupling element 504 along the track 502,thereby moving the coupling device 500 along the track. In someembodiments, motor 510 may be coupled to one or more braking components510 so that the motor 512 can engage the brake 510 to hold the couplingdevice 500 in place on the track 502.

In some embodiments, motor 512 is manually controlled via a switch orsome other interface proximate to coupling device 500. For example, acontrol switch may be located on coupling device 500 with which a usercan interact to activate the motor to move the coupling device 500forwards or backwards along track 502, thereby extending or retractingat least a portion of the soft duct.

In some embodiments, one or more functions of the coupling device 500are implemented based upon signals received from a remote source. Forexample, in some embodiments, one or more components in coupling device500, including motor 512 and braking component 510, may be coupled to aremote power source via one or more power transmission lines so that thecomponents are activated and controlled based upon electrical signalsreceived over the lines. In some embodiments, one or more components arecontrolled based upon commands received from a remote source. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, coupling device 500 includes atransceiver 514 that receives command signals from a remote source via awireless connection. The command signals may be routed from thetransceiver 514 to one or more components to execute the commands, suchas a movement command routed to the motor 512 to move the couplingdevice 500, a braking command routed to the braking component 510 tohold the coupling device 500 in place on track 502, or the like. In someembodiments, the transceiver 514 includes one or more computer systemsthat send and receive signals, process and execute received signals, andthe like. For example, transceiver 514 may include a computing devicethat receives and processes command signals and, based on theprocessing, directs one or more components, including motor 512 andbraking component 510, to perform certain functions.

FIG. 6 illustrates a data center 600 with a plurality of mobile softduct systems 602 and 604 managed by a control system 605 to directcooling air to various rack computing systems 606 according to oneembodiment.

Data center 600 includes mobile soft duct systems 602 and 604, multiplerack computing systems 606 arranged in multiple rows facing one of coldaisles 601 and 603, a primary cooling system including perforated floortiles 608, control system 605 coupled to at least some of the mobilesoft duct systems and primary cooling systems by way of lines 620. Insome embodiments, one or more of lines 620 include a wireless connectionbetween control system 605 and one or more components in data center600. For example, power monitoring system may be remotely located fromboth cold aisles 601 and 603 and coupled to some of a primary coolingsystem and mobile soft duct systems 602 and 604 in each by way of one ormore wireless connections. In some embodiments, control system 605 maybe coupled to various components associated with a primary coolingsystem. For example, control system 605 may be communicatively coupledto one or more air handling units, sensors, and the like.

In some embodiments, primary cooling systems can include one or more ofvarious cooling systems, including raised floor plenums, fixed ductwork,etc. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the primary coolingsystem 608 includes perforated floor tiles of a raised floor plenum thatsupply cooling air from the raised floor plenum to the rack computingsystems 606 from one of cold aisles 601 and 603. The primary coolingsystem may include one or more air handling units that supply air tosome part of the data center 600, including one or more air handlingunits that supply air to a raised floor plenum.

In some embodiments, the control system 605 manages an air distributionsystem in data center 600, including some or all of a primary coolingsystem and mobile soft duct systems 602 and 604, to manage airdistribution and mitigate environmental anomalies in data center 600.Such management may involve selectively using one or more of the primarycooling system and mobile soft duct systems 602 and 604 to deliver airto rack computing systems 606.

For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, where perforatedtiles 608 at cold aisle 601 supply sufficient cooling air to meet thecooling air needs of rack computing systems in cold aisle 601, thecontrol system maintains the mobile soft duct system 604 stowed in aretracted state. But, in the illustrated embodiment, where theperforated floor tiles 608 in cold aisle 603 are determined to beinsufficient to meet the cooling air needs of rack computing systems610, 612, and 614, control system 605 may direct at least a portion ofmobile soft duct system 602 to supply supplementary cooling air to rackcomputing systems 610, 612, and 614 to meet such needs. Such directingby control system 605 may involve directing one or more components toextend mobile soft duct system to a requisite length such that one ormore particular vents 614 are positioned to individually or collectivelydeliver cooling air to racks 610, 612, and 614 and directing one or morecomponents to adjust one or more flow control elements to such that airis directed from selected vents 614 to the rack computing systems 610,612, and 614.

In some embodiments, control system 605 selectively manages one or moreof the primary cooling system and mobile soft duct systems 602 and 604to respond to and mitigate various environmental anomalies in datacenter 600. Such anomalies may include temperature hotspots andcoldspots, airflow stagnation, backpressure in an air distributionsystem, and the like. For example, in the illustrated embodiment,control system 605 may respond to detecting temperature hotspots in rackcomputing systems 610, 612, and 614 by directing mobile soft duct system602 to delivery supplementary cooling air to those rack computingsystems to supplement the primary cooling system 608.

FIG. 7 illustrates an extended mobile soft duct system 700 withcontracted passages according to one embodiment.

Mobile soft duct system 700 includes a soft duct 702 that may beextended from air handling unit 706 along track 704. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, the soft duct 702 is extended a certaindistance.

In some embodiments, various portions of a soft duct 702 may becontracted to reduce their cross sectional area. Such contraction mayimprove airflow through the soft duct to one or more vents bymaintaining air flow velocity above a certain minimum level. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, where soft duct 702 is extendedand vent 708 is adjusted to direct air to a target location, while vents707 are closed, the soft duct 702 includes various passages 710, 712,718 that can be selectively and differently contracted or dilated tomanage airflow through the various passages and vents in the soft duct702. As further shown in the illustrated embodiment, passage 710 remainsuncontracted, but passage 712 is contracted to a first reduced crosssectional area at one end and passage 718 is contracted to the firstreduced cross sectional area at both ends.

In some embodiments, cross sectional area contraction is implemented byone or more contraction elements coupled to hoop elements in the mobilesoft duct system. Such contraction elements may contract the crosssectional area by cinching one or more hoops at particular locationsalong the soft duct 702. Contracting elements may include one or moremotors 714. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, motors 714 arecoupled to hoops in the soft duct 702. The motors 714 may contract crosssectional areas of portions of the soft duct 702 by contracting one ormore hoops coupled to the soft duct surface, contracting one or moreother elements, such as a cable extending around one or more passages ofthe soft duct 702, or the like. The motors 714 may be coupled to one ormore various components in the mobile soft duct system. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment, motors 714 are coupled to separate couplingdevices 722, such that the coupling devices 722 transfer the load of themotors 714 to the track 704.

In some embodiments, the contracting elements are controlled separatelyand individually to separately contract different portions of a softduct to different cross sectional areas. Such individual contraction canenable gradual contraction of a soft duct along its extended length toensure uniform flow characteristics through one or more passages alongsome or all of the soft duct length. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, passage 718 is contracted to a first cross sectional areaand passage 712 is partially contracted to the first cross sectionalarea. Such gradual contraction may be implemented where, for example,multiple vents 708 along the length of soft duct 702 are directing airfrom one or more passages in soft duct 702, and a uniform flow of airthrough each vent is desired.

FIG. 8 illustrates managing a supply of cooling air to a target location800 using a mobile soft duct system according to one embodiment. In someembodiments, such management is implemented by part or all of a controlsystem. In some embodiments, the control system implementing suchmanagement is associated with a computing room in a data center.

At 802, environmental data associated an environment is received. Insome embodiments, the environment is a room where a mobile soft ductsystem is configured to deliver air. For example, in a data center wherea mobile soft duct system is configured to supply supplementary air, theenvironment may include a computing room including one or more rows ofrack computing systems supplied with air from a primary cooling system,including a fixed ductwork, raised floor plenum, etc. In such anenvironment, one or more mobile soft duct computing systems may beconfigured to be extended along one or more cold aisles to supplementthe air supplied by the primary cooling system to meet fluctuatingcooling needs of various rack computing systems.

In some embodiments, the environmental data includes temperature dataassociated with various locations in the environment. In a data center,the temperature data may include temperatures at various intake,exhaust, and internal points in one or more rack computing systems. Insome embodiments, the environmental data includes airflow dataassociated with various locations in the environment. In someembodiments, environmental data is received from one or more sensordevices, an environmental monitoring system, etc. For example, anenvironmental monitoring system may include a Building Management System(BMS), an industrial control system including a Supervisory Control andData Acquisition (SCADA) system, and the like. Various other methods andsystems for receiving environmental data may be known to persons havingordinary skill in the art and are encompassed by the disclosure.

At 804, the environmental data is monitored for anomalies. In someembodiments, such monitoring is continuous, periodic, intermittent,based upon one or more trigger events, etc. Various different types ofanomalies can be monitored for concurrently. For example, in a datacenter environment, monitoring may include monitoring temperature datato determine whether a hotspot or coldspot is occurring or about tooccur at or near one or more rack computing systems by monitoringtemperature data. Monitoring may also involve monitoring for anomaliesin airflow data, including monitoring for stagnation, back pressure insome or all selected portions of the air distribution system, etc.Various methods and systems for monitoring environmental data foranomalies may be known to persons having ordinary skill in the art andare encompassed by the disclosure.

At 806, an environmental anomaly is identified. In some embodiments, theanomaly is a temperature anomaly. For example, in a data centerenvironment, an environmental anomaly may be a temperature valueassociated with a particular rack computing system that is determined tohave exceeded a high-temperature threshold such that a hotspot isidentified at the particular rack computing system.

In some embodiments, the identified anomaly can be associated with aparticular location or region in the environment. For example, in a datacenter environment, where an identified anomaly is a temperaturehotspot, the hotspot may be associated with a particular computingsystem in a rack computing system, a particular part of a particularrack computing system, etc. Various methods and systems of identifyingone or more environmental anomalies based at least in part onenvironmental data may be known to persons having ordinary skill in theart and are encompassed by the disclosure.

At 807, upon detection of an anomaly, a determination is made whether toutilize some or all of a mobile soft duct system to mitigate theanomaly. For example, in a data center environment where a primarycooling system includes a raised floor plenum and a supplementarycooling system includes a mobile soft duct system, the determination mayinvolve determining whether the anomaly can be mitigated within certainconstraints through management of the primary cooling system without themobile soft duct system. Constraints may include estimated mitigationtime with using various cooling systems, additional resource costsassociated with various options, etc. Such management of the primarycooling system, as shown at 809, may include directing one or more airmoving devices, such as fans or blowers, in a raised floor plenum toincrease or decrease the air flow rate through one or more floor tiles.

At 808, if some or all of the mobile soft duct system is to be used tomitigate the anomaly, an appropriate configuration of the mobile softduct system is determined. In some embodiments, an appropriateconfiguration is a configuration of various components in the mobilesoft duct system that will direct air to a target location to mitigatethe environmental anomaly. For example, in a data center environment, anappropriate configuration may involve extending some or all of a mobilesoft duct system to a particular location so that one or more ventsincluded in the mobile soft duct system can direct air to a particularrack computing system experiencing an identified temperature hotspot.

In some embodiments, the configuration may include a particularadjustment of one or more flow control elements to direct air to aspecific target. For example, where a hotspot is associated with aparticular portion of a particular rack computing system, including aparticular air intake, the appropriate configuration may include aparticular adjustment of one or more vents to direct air from one ormore passages of a soft duct to the particular portion. In someembodiments, the configuration may include adjusting the distance of thesoft duct from the track. For example, where the particular portion ofthe particular rack computing system is close to the floor, theappropriate configuration may include lowering at least a portion of asoft duct closer to the floor, so that air can be directed from one ormore vents at the particular portion of the particular rack computingsystem.

At 810, extension of at least a portion of a mobile soft duct system iscommanded. For example, where the mobile soft duct system is in acollapsed state such that the soft duct is collapsed at or near the airhandling unit, extension may include commanding one or more motors toextend at least a part of the soft duct to position one or more vents todirect air to a target location to mitigate the identified hotspot. Sucha commanding may involve sending command signals to one or more motors,providing electrical power to power one or more motors, or somecombination thereof.

In some embodiments, one or more motors may be directed to extend thesoft duct to a particular extension configuration, such that one or moreparticular vents are located in a particular location. The particularlocation may be determined in the appropriate configuration as anoptimal location from which to direct air to mitigate the environmentalanomaly. In some embodiments, one or more motors may be directed toextend the soft duct until one or more particular vents are within acertain predetermined distance of a target location so that the ventscan be adjusted to direct air to the target location to mitigate theenvironmental anomaly.

At 812, adjustment of one or more flow control elements in a mobile softduct system is commanded. In some embodiments, where the appropriateconfiguration includes using a particular vent to direct air to a targetlocation to mitigate the identified environmental anomaly, theappropriate configuration may include a particular adjustment of a flowcontrol element in the vent to direct air to the target location. Forexample, in a data center environment, a louver in a vent may becommanded to adjust to a certain position to supply an optimal directingof air to a particular portion of a rack computing system to mitigate atemperature hotspot associated with that portion of the rack computingsystem. Such a commanding may involve sending command signals to one ormore motors, providing electrical power to power one or more motors, orsome combination thereof. For example, where adjustment of a flowcontrol element is controlled by a motor, the commanding may involvesending a command signal to the motor to adjust the flow control elementto a particular setting.

At 814 and 816, contraction of at least a portion of the soft duct iscommanded if a determination is made that the portion of the extendedsoft duct should be contracted. In some embodiments, such adetermination is made as part of determining an appropriateconfiguration of the mobile soft duct system. In some embodiments, thedetermination is made in response to determining that a portion of thesoft duct is extended beyond a certain distance from the air handlingunit.

In some embodiments, a determination to contract various portions of thesoft duct may include determining the amount of contraction based uponthe distance of extension of the soft duct. For example, if the softduct is extended beyond a first distance from the air handling unit, adetermination may involve determining to contract a portion of theextended soft duct to a first setting. In another example, if the softduct is extended beyond a longer second distance from the air handlingunit, a determination may involve determining to contract a variousportions of the extended soft duct to various settings, such ascontracting a first portion to a first setting and contracting a secondportion following the first portion in series along the soft duct to asecond setting.

In some embodiments, contraction is determined upon length of extensionof the soft duct, which vents in the soft duct are directing air, orsome combination thereof. For example, if the soft duct is to beextended a certain distance such that some amount of contraction isdetermined necessary, and two vents at different locations along thesoft duct are directing air to two separate targets, the soft duct maybe variously contracted along its length to maintain a uniform airflowthrough both vents.

At 818, various components in the air distribution system are adjustedto balance supply of air. In some embodiments, one or more air handlingunits may be commanded to increase or decrease airflow through one ormore mobile soft duct systems, raised floor plenums, fixed ducts, etc.to maintain environmental parameters within a certain range. Forexample, in a data center environment, configuring a mobile soft ductsystem to deliver supplementary air to a rack computing system mayaffect airflow through a raised floor plenum, or vice versa, such thatan air handling unit for the raised floor plenum is directed to increaseor reduce airflow through the raised floor plenum. Air handling unitsmay be commanded to change airflow by commanding one or more controlunits to vary the speed of air moving device, such as a blower, in anair handling unit using a variable frequency drive.

At 820, the environmental data is monitored to determine if theenvironmental anomaly is mitigated. In some embodiments, mitigation isdetermined based upon one or more environmental parameters associatedwith a region crossing a certain threshold. For example, in a datacenter environment, a hotspot may be determined to be mitigated at arack computing system if temperature values association with at least aportion of the rack computing system fall below a certain threshold,which may be the same or different from a high-temperature thresholdthat triggers hotspot identification.

If the hotspot is mitigated, monitoring continues. In some embodiments,the mobile soft duct system is re-configured upon hotspot mitigation,including retracting a soft duct and discontinuing supply of air fromthe mobile soft duct system. In some embodiments, the mobile soft ductsystem is left in its present configuration until another anomaly isdetected. For example, where a mobile soft duct system is configured tomitigate a hotspot, the configuration may be left in place until anotheranomaly, such as a coldspot, is detected at one or more locations in theenvironment.

If, as shown at 822, the anomaly is not mitigated, an alert indicationis provided. In some embodiments, an alert comprises sending anindication to an operator of the existence of an anomaly that was notmitigated. The alert indication may indicate the specific region,associated elements, and environmental parameters associated with theanomaly. For example, in a data center environment, the alert indicationmay identify a specific rack computing system experiencing a hotspot, aswell as an indication of the current temperature, estimated time untilthe rack computing system must shut down due to the hotspot, etc. Theoperator may implement additional mitigation functions to mitigate theanomaly. For example, in a data center environment, where configurationof a mobile soft duct system fails to mitigate a hotspot, an operatormay be informed of the hotspot so that additional mitigation steps canbe taken, such as introducing a fan apparatus near the rack computingsystem experiencing the hotspot to deliver additional air, removing araised floor plenum tile to deliver additional air, and the like.

In some embodiments, a subsequent configuration of the mobile soft ductsystem may be implemented following or concurrently with sending thealert indication. For example, in anticipation of operator-implementedfunctions, and where the configuration of the mobile soft duct systemhas lowered at least a portion of the soft duct closer to the floor, asubsequent configuration may involve raising the portion of the softduct to better facilitate the operator-implemented functions.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system thatmay be used in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a system that implements a portion or all of one ormore of the technologies, including but not limited to a portion or allof the mobile soft duct system, the control system, one or more modulesincluded in the control system, and air distribution management methods,systems, devices, and apparatuses as described herein, may include ageneral-purpose computer system that includes or is configured to accessone or more computer-accessible media, such as computer system 900illustrated in FIG. 9. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system900 includes one or more processors 910 coupled to a system memory 920via an input/output (I/O) interface 930. Computer system 900 furtherincludes a network interface 940 coupled to I/O interface 930.

In various embodiments, computer system 900 may be a uniprocessor systemincluding one processor 910, or a multiprocessor system includingseveral processors 910 (e.g., two, four, eight, or another suitablenumber). Processors 910 may be any suitable processors capable ofexecuting instructions. For example, in various embodiments, processors910 may be general-purpose or embedded processors implementing any of avariety of instruction set architectures (ISAs), such as the x86,PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitable ISA. Inmultiprocessor systems, each of processors 910 may commonly, but notnecessarily, implement the same ISA.

System memory 920 may be configured to store instructions and dataaccessible by processor(s) 910. In various embodiments, system memory920 may be implemented using any suitable memory technology, such asstatic random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM),nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory. In theillustrated embodiment, program instructions and data implementing oneor more desired functions, such as a portion or all of the mobile softduct system, the control system, one or more modules included in thecontrol system, and air distribution management methods, systems,devices, and apparatuses as described herein, are shown stored withinsystem memory 920 as code 925 and data 926.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 930 may be configured to coordinate I/Otraffic between processor 910, system memory 920, and any peripheraldevices in the device, including network interface 940 or otherperipheral interfaces. In some embodiments, I/O interface 930 mayperform any necessary protocol, timing or other data transformations toconvert data signals from one component (e.g., system memory 920) into aformat suitable for use by another component (e.g., processor 910). Insome embodiments, I/O interface 930 may include support for devicesattached through various types of peripheral buses, such as a variant ofthe Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus standard or theUniversal Serial Bus (USB) standard, for example. In some embodiments,the function of I/O interface 930 may be split into two or more separatecomponents, such as a north bridge and a south bridge, for example.Also, in some embodiments some or all of the functionality of I/Ointerface 930, such as an interface to system memory 920, may beincorporated directly into processor 910.

Network interface 940 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 900 and other devices 960 attached to a networkor networks 950, such as other computer systems or devices asillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, for example. For example, networkinterface 940 may be configured to allow data to be exchanged betweencomputer system and one or more sensor devices, a sensor managementsystem, some or all of the mobile soft duct system, or the like. Invarious embodiments, network interface 940 may support communication viaany suitable wired or wireless general data networks, such as types ofEthernet network, for example. Additionally, network interface 940 maysupport communication via telecommunications/telephony networks such asanalog voice networks or digital fiber communications networks, viastorage area networks such as Fibre Channel SANs, or via any othersuitable type of network and/or protocol.

In some embodiments, system memory 920 may be one embodiment of acomputer-accessible medium configured to store program instructions anddata for implementing embodiments of air distribution management methodsas described above relative to at least FIG. 8. In other embodiments,program instructions and/or data may be received, sent or stored upondifferent types of computer-accessible media. Generally speaking, acomputer-accessible medium may include non-transitory storage media ormemory media such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk or DVD/CDcoupled to computer system 900 via I/O interface 930. A non-transitorycomputer-accessible storage medium may also include any volatile ornon-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, RDRAM, SRAM,etc.), ROM, etc., that may be included in some embodiments of computersystem 900 as system memory 920 or another type of memory. Further, acomputer-accessible medium may include transmission media or signalssuch as electrical, electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via acommunication medium such as a network and/or a wireless link, such asmay be implemented via network interface 940.

Various embodiments may further include receiving, sending or storinginstructions and/or data implemented in accordance with the foregoingdescription upon a computer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, acomputer-accessible medium may include storage media or memory mediasuch as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk or DVD/CD-ROM, volatile ornon-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR, RDRAM, SRAM, etc.),ROM, etc., as well as transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

The various methods as illustrated in the Figures and described hereinrepresent example embodiments of methods. The methods may be implementedin software, hardware, or a combination thereof. The order of method maybe changed, and various elements may be added, reordered, combined,omitted, modified, etc.

Although the embodiments above have been described in considerabledetail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent tothose skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace allsuch variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data center, comprising: a computing roomcomprising rack computing systems arranged in a row and a cold aisleextending along a side of the row, the rack computing systems configuredto receive air from the cold aisle; a primary cooling system configuredto supply primary air to the rack computing systems from the cold aisleto meet cooling requirements of each of the rack computing systems; anda mobile soft duct cooling system configured to supply supplementary airto at least one of the rack computing systems from the cold aisle, themobile soft duct cooling system comprising: a track extending along thecold aisle, and at least one soft duct comprising: at least onecollapsible conduit having at least one interior passage, at least onering coupled to a surface of the conduit and extending circumferentiallyalong at least a portion of the surface of the conduit, at least onehanger coupled at a proximate end to the ring and movably coupled at adistal end to the track, such that the hangar enables the ring to bemoved along the track to extend the collapsible conduit, at least onevent comprising at least one outlet including adjustable louvers, thevent is coupled to the ring and configured to provide an adjustable flowof air supplied from the interior passage of the collapsible conduitthrough the outlet based on an adjustment setting of the louvers, andthe soft duct is configured to be extended along the track to a targetedposition such that the vent directs the supplementary air to the atleast one of the plurality of rack computing systems.
 2. The data centerof claim 1, comprising: a first motor configured to extend the soft ductalong the track into the targeted position; and a second motorconfigured to adjust the louvers to the adjustment setting.
 3. The datacenter of claim 2, comprising: a cooling control system configured tomanage air supplied to the rack computing systems, wherein to manage airsupplied to the rack computing systems, the cooling control system isconfigured to manage the primary cooling system and the mobile soft ductcooling system; the cooling control system configured to, in response todetermining that the primary air is failing to meet cooling requirementsof the at least one of the rack computing systems, direct the firstmotor to extend the soft duct along the track to the targeted position;and the cooling control system further configured to, in response todetermining that the soft duct is extended to the targeted position,direct the second motor to adjust the louvers to the adjustment setting.4. The data center of claim 1, the at least one interior passage isconfigured to be reversibly contracted such that a cross sectional areaof the at least one interior passage is changed.
 5. A system comprising:a track configured to span a first length of space; a soft ductcomprising at least one first passage at least partially bounded by aflexible material; a vent, coupled to the soft duct, comprising anoutlet and configured to direct air supplied through the first passagevia the outlet; and a coupling device configured to movably couple atleast a portion of the soft duct to at least a portion of the track,such that the soft duct is configured to be reversibly extended along atleast a portion of the first length of space to position the vent at atarget location to direct air supplied through the first passage to acooling target.
 6. The system of claim 5, comprising: a hoop coupled toa surface of the first passage and extending circumferentially along atleast a portion of a cross-sectional circumference of the first passage;and the hoop is further coupled to the vent and the coupling device,such that the coupling device is configured to move the hoop along thefirst length of space to reversibly extend the soft duct.
 7. The systemof claim 5, the coupling device comprising a brake configured to lockthe coupling device at a cable position on the track, such that at leasta portion of the soft duct is immobilized with regard to the targetlocation.
 8. The system of claim 5, the track comprises a first motorconfigured to extend at least a portion of the soft duct along the firstlength of space to position the vent at the target location.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the vent comprises: at least one adjustableflow control element configured to direct air supplied through the firstpassage to the cooling target via the outlet based upon a selectedposition of the flow control element; and a second motor configured toadjust the flow control element to the selected position to direct airto the cooling target from the first passage through the vent.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, comprising: a soft duct remote control systemconfigured to direct the first motor to reversibly extend the at least aportion of the soft duct along the first length of space; and the softduct remote control system further configured to direct the second motorto adjust the flow control element to the selected position to directair supplied through the first passage to the cooling target.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein: the soft duct remote control system isconfigured to direct the first motor to extend the at least a portion ofthe soft duct in response to determining, based on temperature datareceived from at least one sensor device, that a first temperaturemeasurement associated with the target exceeds a temperature threshold;and the soft duct remote control system is configured to direct at leastthe first motor to retract the soft duct in response to determining,based upon subsequent temperature data received from at least one sensordevice, that a second temperature measurement is less than thetemperature threshold.
 12. The system of claim 5, the soft ductincluding at least one second passage coupled in series to the firstpassage, the second passage is a truncated conical passage configured toprovide an increased flow velocity of air supplied from the firstpassage through an outlet of the second passage.
 13. The system of claim5, the soft duct comprising an attachment device at one end of the firstpassage, the attachment device is configured to couple the first passageof the soft duct to a separate passage of a separate soft duct.
 14. Thesystem of claim 5, the soft duct comprising an end plate capping thecylindrical first passage, such that the flow of air is restricted atthe end plate, the end plate comprising at least one handle configuredto enable the soft duct to be manually extended.
 15. A methodcomprising: performing, by at least one computer device: directing afirst motor to movably extend a portion of a soft duct along apredetermined track such that a vent coupled to the portion of the softduct is positioned a minimum distance from a target location, anddirecting at least one air distribution system to supply air to thetarget location, wherein to supply the air to the target location, theat least one air distribution system is configured to supply the airthrough an interior of the soft duct and direct the air through a firstoutlet of the vent.
 16. The method of claim 15, comprising directing asecond motor to adjust a flow control element associated with the firstoutlet to a specified position to direct the air to the target location.17. The method of claim 16, comprising: based on first temperature dataassociated with the target location, determining that a temperature atthe target location exceeds a predetermined threshold value; whereindirecting the first motor to movably extend the soft duct along thepredetermined track such that the vent is positioned the minimumdistance from the target location is in response to the determining; andin further response to the determining: directing the second motor todirect the air to the target location, and directing the at least oneair distribution system to supply the air to the target location, suchthat the temperature at the target location falls below thepredetermined threshold value.
 18. The method of claim 17, comprisingdirecting at least one third motor to adjust at least one second flowcontrol element in at least one second outlet to adjust a flowrate ofthe air directed to the target location through the first outlet. 19.The method of claim 15, comprising directing a third motor to contract across-sectional area of a first portion of the soft duct to increase aflow velocity of the air supplied through at least the first portion ofthe soft duct.
 20. The method of claim 19, comprising directing thethird motor to contract the cross-sectional area of the second portionof the soft duct in response a determination that the first portion ofthe soft duct is extended at least a first predetermined distance froman origin point along the predetermined track.